2 assassins gunned down by off-duty cop

By Arnell Ozaeta, ABS-CBN News Southern Tagalog

BATANGAS, Philippines - Three people died a shootout between assassins and an off-duty cop in Agoncillo town on Sunday evening, police said.

Senior Inspector Jose Marasigan, police chief of the town of Agoncillo, identified the target of the attack as Restituto Mendoza, 54, fisherman and a resident of Barangay Pook, Agoncillo, Batangas province.

According to a police report, Mendoza was standing in front of his house talking to his neighbors when 2 unidentified gunmen on board a motorcycle arrived at around 6:50 p.m.

Witnesses said the suspects shot Mendoza several times killing him on the spot with a calibre .45 pistol. He was rushed to Metro Lemery Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians.

However, before the suspects could escape, Mendoza’s neighbour, Police Officer 2 Jerry Belista rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshots. He engaged the suspects in a gun battle for a few minutes.

PO2 Belista, an off-duty cop assigned at the Philippine National Police Lemery, was able to outgun the suspects and kill them before they could escape.

Police have yet to determine the identities of the suspects and their motive for assassinating Mendoza.